Pipe joint



June 13, 1950 1 J. BERGSTEN PIPE JOINT 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1945 lI-Ill I I l l A mm 75 Ww mf N5 I U, N n W n `Ivune 13, 1950 vl.. J. BERGs-TEN PIPE JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheei'l 2 Filed Dec. l, 1945 Patented June 13, 1950 l.UNITED STATES PATENT GF F ICE VIJIE JQINT Lawrence JJBergstemMinneapolis, Minn. mllcationiecember 1, 1945,.Serial.No. 632,220

.2 Claims.

This .invention relates `to .suction 4cleaners of fthe .type generally used for general lhousehold cleaning .and tor .similar purposes.

.My invention is particularly adapted -for use ,in yconnection with that type .of l:suction .cleaner which includes a horizontally disposed .substan- -tially cylindrical .casing Within which is mounted .a Ian anda dustcollecting laag. .One-end of the .casing provided n.with an air inlet .to which a .hose may be attached @and Athe Kother end .of the Aicas-)img is provided withanhutlet. This type fof .suction cleaner is .customarily `.provided with sets of runner elements which suplll? the-casing vand ,permitit to be draw-n .across the hoor.

` `One .of thexobjects .of my .invention lis to .prowide asuction .cleaner construction having .a sub- .istantially .horizontally .disposed )body -with .m- --proved :means ,for facilitating ,movement .of `the .cleaner across the v.floor without .damage .to .rugs @or polished ,floor surfaces.

v.Another object Aof the invention 'is the provision of .an .improved mountingor the elements .supporting the cleaner.

.Another Aobject of vthe invention vis to v.provide an improved sirnplied inlet head and ball joint Asupport ,for .the .inlet hose.

,A furtherpbject of the .inyention'is .provide .an improved ,fumigating calttaclmrent ,for .suction cleaners and an improved .mounting therefor.

.These .and ,other objects .and .advantages .of the invention will .more fully .appear ,from `'the iol- Zlowing .description :made .in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like .reference characters ,refer .to .the same .lor .similar .parts throughout Athe views, .and .in which.:

Fig. .1 .is a 4plan View of a .cleaner embodying .my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with Aportions :of the .casing and inner .mountings vbroken -..away with :the `fumiga'ting attachment .shown .in :dotted lines;

Eig. ..3 is .an enlarged, vertical section .taken .longitudinally .through the .for-.ward .or Vair .inlet portion of .the apparatus; .and

Fig. f4 `isa longitudinal verticalsection through .the fumigating attachment.

.Referring more yparticularly to Figs. .1 and 2, the .apparatus .includes .an .outer casing .5 of generally .cylindrical .shape withan .air .inlet element 5 .and an .air outlet generally indicated vat 1. Within .the casing 5 yis a motor .8 ,supported by .rubber mountings 9 4and said .motor .has .a .afan unit driven thereby. The fangis .of v.conventional ,structure :and .is not shown. The forward .end aof the casing vrcarries fa .fabric bag JI which is adapted .toreoe'ive .air drawn .in through .theintake i6 `and .tolter .dustiromsaid air, Vthe cleaned .or .ltered air being drawn rearwardly through lthe bag .and out of 1the outlet TI. vTheniotor is .controlled .by switch .element ,I2 which [is .conynecltzed bya relatively long .pair of `wires 1I3 to a. l.conveniently located .electrical outlet .attachment. A flexible 'hose I4 is detachably (con- .nected .to .the A.air ,inlet element ,6 in a manner to be described Lbelow. lA .suitable handle I5 is mounted on the upper .side .of the .casing `.5.

When apparatus .of this-type is used the cleaner mechanismsupportedfbyand within the casing 5 rests upon the ,floor and as the .operator moves Lto .dilferent parts of the room Where rugs or 1inishings 4are being cleaned, the casing Y5 .is moyed '.by pulling upon the flexible hose I4. .Here'tofora apparatus .of .this .type .has .been .supported by a plurality of runners which are adapted Lto slide Aover .the `rug .or bare floorsurface, or the casing has lbeen x'supported v.entirely by rollers. '.Naturally, a sliding element nproducts considerable friction and undue wear vand .other damage to .rugs ,and polishedfloorsurfaces. Where the casing is supported completely ,byrollers its moyeynient is .too free and A,cannot ,be easily controlled. Frequently when this type of cleaner is pulled .across the floor, it 'bumps into furniture Yand scratches it or otherwise injures the finish. 'In 'this 7construction shown, in the drawings, I provide a ,pair of rear wheels .I6 which .are mounted .upon axles I'I, each of said wheels having .an individual axle mounted Vbetween the lower rear side Walls of the casing 5 and webs |18 which are preferably cast integrally with the rear end of the casing I2. The webs I8 in combination with cooperating webs I9 .form wells foi-fthe rear wheels I6 and separate the wheel mountings from the interior of the casing. The forward .end of 'the easing issupported by a piar of metal strips 20 which, .as .best shown in Fig. .2, ,extend downwardly from the casing and 'have hat floor engaging `|portions 20a. The strips .20 extend through .the .bottom .of the casing and as shown inFigs. y2 `and 13, .are cushioned .in .blocks Yof rubber Y2l. Plates 22 on .the uppersides of Atherubber blocks '2I d.are .connected to thebottom of the cas- .ing .by Y,means of rivets '23. .It will be noted that .the supporting strips l2li are positioned adjacent the forward end of the casing .5 .a `considerable .distance from .the rear .wheels IB so that when the operator .of the .apparatus wishes to 'move the .same .by pulling on the flexible hose .I4 .the forward end of .the .casing will vbe elevated to some .extent due Vto the pull on the hose I4 and "shaped element 45.

of the cleaner across the floor surface is elimihated and rugs and iioor finishes are in no wayA injured. It will be seen that I have combined the advantages of the roller supportV with those of a slide element so that the device can be easily noved, but at the same time, it is quickly'brought to rest when the user ceases to pull on the hose, and there is absolutely no danger of the machine drifting across the floor and into furniture and other articles. In addition, the combination of the roller and slide is of considerable advantage when the device is placed on surfaces which are not necessarily level such as on the running board of a motor vehicle when cleaning the upholstery and other interior parts of the Vehicle. Furthermore, the rubber mounting of the metal strips naturally reduces any vibration which might otherwise be transmitted from the apparatus to a highly polished oor.

In Fig. 3, there is shown the details of the forward removable head of the casing and the connection between the casing and the flexible hose I 4. The casing head 24 is provided with a central aperture 25 and, as is illustrated said aperture is provided with a forwardly and upwardly extending lip portion 25. The material in the head 24 which defines the opening 25j is rounded as shown, to provide a portion of a rounded socket. The other portion of said socket lis provided by a more or less disc-like element or plate 21 which has a central opening defined by a flange 28 having a turned edge 28a. A gasket 281) is rev' tained by the flange 28 and provides a portion of the socket for the ball 45. This gasket serves eectively to prevent air leaks past the ball element and also acts to clean the ball when the joint is moved. A plurality of short bolts 29 extend through the disc-like element 2l and into bosses 30 on the inner side of said head. The lower portion of the head 24 isprovided with a hook 3| which is adapted to t into an eye portion 32 on a metal ring 33 which is secured to the main casing. The ring may be secured to the main casing by bolts 34 which extend .z

through the brackets 35, the latter being connected to the casing. The bolts are threaded into the ring 33. The upper portion of the head 34 is provided with a notch 36 to receive the `hooked end 3'I of a fastening element which includes a forward portion 38 pivotally secured at 39 to an operating lever 40. yThe lever 4% is pivotally mounted at 4I to lugs 42 on the main casing. When the head 24 and its cooperating disc-like element 21 `are clamped into place, a flange 43 on said disc-like element clamps a ring 44 between it and the ring 33 which is secured to the casing. The ring 44 is secured to and holds in position the dust collecting bag I I. The socket formed by the central openings in the head 24 and the disc-like element Z'I is adapted to movably receive the more or less ball- The latter has a central opening 45 therethrough and the outer end of said opening is defined vby a lip upon which is Ainto an opening in the flanged outer edge of the collar 48 and behind a portion of said flanged end to detachably secure the hose to the air inlet provided by the ball 45 It will be noted that the forwardly and upwardly extending lip on thehead 24 limits downward movement of the ball 45` and the end of the hose I4. However, considerable upward angular movement of the end of the hose is permitted due to the shape of the head defining the opening 24 Iin said head. The ball is made of insulating material such as Bakelitev for-the reason that sometimes short circuits develop inthe apparatus, and usually the hose I4 is reinforced by a, helical wir'e,ra'nd in some machines of this type it is relatively easy Vto get a shock if the user is,l holding the hose AIn Fig. 4 there 1s shown a fumigating attachment which comprises cooperating shell portions 56 and 5l. These may be separably connected by means of a bayonet joint, threads or any other suitable connection. The shell 5'. is provided with an annular inner groove 58 which receives va. spring ring 59, the latter holding the arms 61' of lanairdeflector 5G. The tubular mouth 6I of the shell 5l is provided with an inner groove 52 within which a lter element 63 is secured and the opposite end of the attachment is provided with a mouth 64 and a filter element 55. Within the shell 51 between the filters 63 and G5 a fumigating material such as paradichlorbenzine crystals may be placed. The fumigating attachment is indicated in dotted lines in 2 with one of its mouth portionsor open ends inserted in the air outlet 'I at the lefthand end of the cleaner casing. rihe air outlet includes a sleeve previously indicated by the numeral l', said sleeve having an inwardly turned flange la, below which is positioned a ring 1b. The collar 'I and ring 'ib are supported in the rear portion of the main casing of the machine as is clearly shown.

The substantially vertical positioning of the fumigating attachment in the vertically disposed outlet opening Y of the cleaner has important advantages. The attachment when in use for fumigating a room will direct air upwardly and materially assist in defusing fumigated air to the bottom of the device and rest upon the screen 65 relatively close to the motor 8. There is considerable heat generated by the motor and the warmth of the air flowing through the outlet and through the fumigator causes more rapid vaporization of the fumigant and the results are naturally more effective. When the fumigating attachment is secured to the end of the hose i4 for treating furniture cushions and other articles which are inconvenient to fumigate with the y attachment on the machine itself the end 6| is secured to the hose. This is done so that the defiector 6'8 will direct air radially against the crystals which might be lying in the lower intermediate part of the casing. The deector is not important when the device is used in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 but does have an important function when the fumigating attachment is held in a horizontal position.

When the fumigator is used for moth-proofing furniture, pianos and for similar purposes, it may be of ladvantage to utilize the flexible hose Il to confine the iiow of fumigant-bearing air. The hose may be connected on the outlet end of the fumigator or it may be directly connected to the air outlet of the cleaner and the fumigating attachment secured to the opposite end of the hose. If the hose is connected to the cleaner at the air outlet the spring element 52 with its hook end 54 on the end of the hose may be connected beneath the flange 'la on the collar 'L This would prevent accidental displacement of the hose as it is being moved to different positions.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a suction cleaner construction which is not only easy to manipulate and move around a room, but which is so supported on the floor that it can be moved without damaging rug texture or floor finishes. It does not move so freely as to run wild and damage itself or articles of furniture, however. As above described, when the cleaner is moved the metal strips are raised out of contact with the floor and the cleaner is moved on the rollers I6 while the hose I4 is supported and drawn by the operator. The concentration of weight toward the rear of the cleaning apparatus also assists in this movement on the rollers with the strips 20 off of the floor. The front end construction with its improved ball and socket arrangement is one which is simple to assemble and extremely eflicient in use. In addition the cleaner can be used as a combination cleaner and fumigator or as a fumigator alone, and the fumigating attachment can be quickly applied without resorting to the use of tools or the manipulation of thumb screws or bolts.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Mechanism for flexibly connecting the fluid inlet of a machine such as a suction cleaner with a flexible hose to provide both communication and draft means for said machine, having in combination an annular ball-receiving socket disposed generally horizontally and comprising generally, an internal zone of a hollow sphere, a balllike swivel element complementarily shaped to said socket and retained therein with freedom for universal swivel adjustment relatively to said socket, a compressible liner gasket interposed between said socket and swivel member for air sealing the relationship between socket and swivel element, said socket having an outwardly protruding lip in the lower portion thereof conforming to the general internal hollow sphere zone shape of the socket for engaging said swivel member to limit the downward movement thereof, to substantially horizontal position, a rigid tubular element inserted at one end in a flexible hose and f projecting beyond said end, said ball-like swivel member having an enlarged axial and cylindrical passage therethrough, said tubular element being detachably inserted in sealed relation within said passage and a connector between the outer end of said swivel element and said hose for detachably retaining said hose in connected relation with said swivel element.

2. Mechanism for flexibly connecting the iiuid inlet of a machine such as a suction cleaner with a flexible hose to provide both communication and draft means for said machine, having in combination, a plate forming at least a portion of one of the walls of said machine at one end thereof, said plate having a medially disposed circular aperture defined by an inturned annular flange shaped generally in accordance with an internal zone of a hollow sphere taken in an area disposed at one side of the equator of said sphere, a ball-swivel element constructed of somewhat compressible material and complementarily shaped to said flange and seated therein, a removable annular member secured to said plate and having an inner peripheral portion of complementary shape to said ball and surrounding the same in a zone engaging a portion of said ball member at the opposite side of the equator thereof, said peripheral portion with said flange forming a retaining socket for said ball, said removable annular member having a widened lip portion in its periphery adjacent the lower part thereof for underlying said ball to limit downward swinging movement thereof, said ball member having a relatively large cylindrical aperture extending therethrough, a rigid tubular element inserted and fixed at one end in an end of a fiexible hose and projecting beyond said end, said projectng portion being detachably inserted in sealed relation within the apertured portion o1' said ball and a draft connector between the outer end of said ball member and said hose for detachably retaining said hose in connected relation with said ball member.

LAWRENCE J. BERGSTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,344,205 Holdaway June 22, 1920 1,827,500 White Oct. 13, 1931 1,914,736 Couto June 20, 1933 2,052,967 Carlstedt Sept. 1, 1936 

